Russian Freestyle Skier Breaks Her Back During Training, Report Says

A Russian freestyle skier has suffered a broken back in a training crash in the mountains above Sochi, news agency R-Sport reported on Saturday.

Ski cross racer Maria Komissarova sustained the injury while training at the PSX Olympic ski-cross venue at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, the Russian Freestyle Federation said in a statement.

A source close to the situation told R-Sport the injury was a fracture of the spine with a dislocation.

"The character of the injury doesn't allow for her transportation to Moscow," the source said. "Doctors will decide how to proceed further but an urgent operation will be carried out at Krasnaya Polyana hospital," the source added.

The 23-year-old won second place at a World Cup event in 2012, but she was not expected to be a medal contender in the women's ski cross competition on Friday. The federation has not commented on the nature of the injury other than to say it is "serious" and that Komissarova is ruled out of competition.

Earlier this week, a track worker broke both his legs when he was hit by a non-competition bobsled on Thursday. A Russian ski jumper also broke two ribs in a training crash Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Canadian slopestyle skier Yuki Tsubota suffered a broken jaw when her own knee struck her in the face during a crash in the final of her competition.